December 14, 2012

… was one of the happiest days of our lives.

Unfortuntely, for too many parents, it was their worst nightmare come true.

Nowadays, you give birth right there in your room.  We had had the TV on while I was going through contractions, etc (why?  I don't know.  It's not like anyone could focus on anything but the anticipation of Miss Avery).  I hadn't even noticed it on, really.  When I finished giving birth to Avery, the doctors had us all cleaned up and were out of there with all their fancy equipment, and it was just John, me, and the most beautiful little girl we had ever laid eyes on.  Our hearts were swelling.

But then we looked up.

BREAKING NEWS!! alerts were all over the TV.

On December 14, 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children and 6 adult staff members in a mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut.  Before driving to school, Lanza shot and killed his mother at their Newton home.  As first responders arrived, he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

Nurses were in and out of our room, mostly all stopping to catch the latest on the story and wiping away tears.

I don't think I could properly soak it in, when I had my brand new precious girl in my arms.  Selfishly, I didn't want to.  I didn't want anything to take away from how perfectly happy I was that day.

But as the days rolled on, I couldn't ignore the story and all the information coming in, or the overwhelming pain it caused my heart.  What kind of world had I just brought this sweet baby into??  I think the whole nation grieved for those families.  And I can assure you, I hugged my children extra tight and prayed to God to keep them safe forever.  I don't think any parent wants to imagine what the loss of their child must be like, especially in those circumstances.

It was the second deadliest mass shooting by a single person in American history.  Court documents released from the investigation showed that the school shooting had occurred in a space of less than five minutes with 155 shots fired.

There are so many emotions, questions, and political agendas that have come from this horrific tragedy and I don't want to get into any of that.  But with the one year anniversary approaching and all the upcoming holidays, I just thought everyone reading this could send up a quick prayer for all those precious angels and those who love them.